Union volunteers renovate home for returning veterans

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4683

By Michael Moore
14 November 2010

MAPLEWOOD - Labor leaders joined union contractors, Ramsey County officials and representatives of veterans-service organizations for a Veterans Day ceremony outside Birmingham Place, a formerly vacant property purchased and rehabilitated to house returning soldiers as they transition into civilian life.

The county touted Birmingham Place as a “shining example” of the federal economic-stimulus package at work – and of the good that can be accomplished through public-private partnerships.

Birmingham Place is a six-bedroom ranch home on Birmingham Street in the southwestern part of Maplewood.

Ramsey County’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority purchased the vacant home for $127,000 in June, using stimulus funds won by the county to implement its neighborhood-stabilization program. That program identifies vacant properties suitable for rehabilitation and resale, buys them and hires workers to carry out the property’s renovation.

Rehabilitation work on Birmingham Place was done exclusively by union members, who volunteered their time and labor to improve the property’s appearance and habitability, and to make sure the property satisfied building and health-and-safety codes.

Ramsey County estimated the value of labor and materials contributed by local unions and union contractors had reduced the cost of the project by $5,000 to $7,500. The work carried out by union volunteers improved the value of Birmingham Place by $45,000.

Participating unions included Plumbers Local 34, Painters Local 61 and Local 110 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.


FULL story at link.

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